5192 version 5
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Dispense animal drugs as directed by the veterinarian
Level
3
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to prepare a prescription as
directed by the veterinarian, and provide advice to clients regarding drug
administration.
Subfield
Animal Care and Handling
Domain
Veterinary Nursing
Status
Registered
Status date
8 August 1996
Date version published
25 June 2007
Planned review date
31 July 2009
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry
and teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0228
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
For credit, evidence must be in accordance with the statutory and industry
requirements contained in the following documents.
Relevant and current National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) Codes
of Welfare and Codes of Recommendations and Minimum Standards, available at
http://www.maf.govt.nz, under animal welfare.
Relevant New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) standards, available from
NZVA, PO Box 11-212, Manners Street, Wellington (http://www.vets.org.nz) including
the current version of Standard Procedures for Veterinary Nursing and Animal Care.
Medicines Act 1981, Medicines Regulations 1984, Misuse of Drugs Regulations
1977, Veterinarians Act 2005, Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act
1997, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Animal Welfare Act
1999, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and any subsequent amendments.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
5192 version 5
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2
In-house procedures refer to the documented policies and procedures for animal
handling and ethical behaviour codes required by the employer.
3
Underpinning Knowledge
The following areas of knowledge underpin performance of the elements in this unit
standard:
Element 1
Abbreviations used in veterinary pharmacy
Terms used in veterinary pharmacy (generic name, product name, medication,
contra-indication, side effects, withholding period, solution, suspension)
Therapeutic actions of drug groups
Generic and product names of drug groups
Use of veterinary prescriber's index and product labels to acquire information about a
drug
Legislation relating to veterinary drugs, drug schedules, implications
Element 2
Product information (withdrawal periods, withholding time, safe administration,
regimes).
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Prepare a prescription as directed by the veterinarian.
Performance criteria
1.1
Drug dosage for a full course for a given animal is calculated as directed by the
veterinarian.
1.2
Drugs are dispensed safely and hygienically from a prescription according to
current legislation.
1.3
Medicines and remedies are dispensed in containers which are legibly and
indelibly labelled according to current legislation and standard procedures.
1.4
Drugs which can be dispensed without veterinary examination or authorisation
(OTC or 'Over The Counter') are identified.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
5192 version 5
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Element 2
Provide advice to clients regarding drug administration.
Performance criteria
2.1
Medications are described in terms of the situations where advice must be
provided by the veterinarian.
2.2
Administration, regimes, safety, and suitability of the medication are explained
and demonstrated to clients in accordance with in-house procedures.
2.3
Information regarding storage and handling of medication according to type is
supplied to the client in terms of safety and suitability.
2.4
Withholding periods are explained to the client in terms of specific medication.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016